Author: Press Room

The businessman found guilty of insider trading over the sale of Pushpay Holdings shares can now be named as Peter Huljich.Huljich’s appeal against his conviction was heard by the Court of Appeal last month.His appeal was dismissed but the Crown’s appeal against his sentence was allowed, increasing his fine from $100,000 to $200,000.Name suppression was due to end on Friday morning, but Huljich said on Thursday he had chosen to disclose his identity early.He said he was disappointed with the outcome in the Court of Appeal but intended to seek leave to appeal to the Supreme Court. “I maintain my…

Labour leader Chris Hipkins says it was a “mistake” for the party to quote from a controversial opinion column, that used the C-word.He says it has now become a “distraction” from the Government’s pay equity changes.MP Jan Tinetti quoted a line, which did not include the C-word, from the controversial Sunday Star-Times article, while she asked a question in Parliament yesterday.The use of the column prompted a ferocious response from the Government benches, with Minister Brooke Van Velden describing the column itself as “clearly misogynistic”.Tinetti stood by her decision to quote from the column yesterday, with the question having gone…

The country’s highest watchdog issued a scathing assessment of Oranga Tamariki’s procurement and contracting practices last year.In a report released on Thursday, the Auditor-General found Oranga Tamariki was “poorly prepared” to carry out its contracting round during the 2024/25 financial year, and fell short of expectations for public organisations.The report stated the effects of the decisions by the child protection agency were “still not known” and this was “unacceptable”.”Oranga Tamariki did not plan the contracting round well and left its decision-making until late in the process.”It documented its decision-making poorly and its decisions were not adequately informed by evidence of…

An inland port in Mosgiel would overwhelm the suburb’s roads and fail to accommodate the demand from industry attracted to the area, a city councillor says. Cr Jim O’Malley, who is the Dunedin City Council representative on the Otago regional transport committee, said he “100%” backed an alternative site at Milburn, announced this week by Calder Stewart. Port Otago and Dynes Transport have previously touted plans for an inland depot, the “Southern Link Logistics Park”, to be established in Mosgiel. Now, Calder Stewart has announced plans for a “Milburn Quadrant development” near Milton, which the construction giant said could be…

Work to improve one of the busiest intersections south of Auckland will get underway this Sunday.The efficiency and safety on the southbound off-ramp at Bombay Interchange has been a concern for motorists for years.NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi would begin a four- to five- month project, beginning on the evening of May 18.It would be stage two of the works that were completed in March.NZTA regional manager transport services Stephen Collett said most construction would take place overnight between 9pm and 5am.”Planned improvements include extending the overall length of the existing off-ramp by approximately 100m at the northern end, where…

Lewis Pugh has followed an unspoken rule during his career as one of the world’s most daring endurance swimmers: Don’t talk about sharks. But he plans to break that this week on a swim around Martha’s Vineyard, where Jaws was filmed 50 years ago.The British-South African was the first person to complete a long-distance swim in every ocean of the world — and has taken on extreme conditions everywhere from Mount Everest to the Arctic.“On this swim, it’s very different: We’re just talking about sharks all the time,” joked Pugh, who will, as usual, wear no wetsuit.For his swim around…

Five Gisborne marae impacted by severe weather in early 2023 will move to safer locations with the support of the Crown, the Government has announced today.The trustees of Puketawai, Hinemaurea ki Mangatuna, Okuri, Takipū and Rangatira Marae had made the “difficult decision” to relocate and re-establish their respective marae in new locations.More than $136 million, which was allocated from Budgets 2023 and 2024 would fund the programme, including the costs to relocate owners of 24 whenua Māori properties, demolition of residential structures, and some assistance to support affected sites of cultural significance — principally urūpa.Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell said…

ADVERTISEMENTThe EU’s highest military body is looking into strengthening the bloc’s mutual defence clause with a view of boosting interoperability and military mobility among European armed forces as the US increasingly looks to the Asia-Pacific.Austrian General Robert Brieger stressed on Thursday following a gathering of the European Union Military Committee, which he chairs, that the EU needs a “clear holistic approach” when it comes to defence and that Chiefs of Defence taking part in the meeting had issued “recommendations for the operationalisation of Article 42.7”.Article 42.7 is the EU’s mutual defence clause, in force since 2009, which provides that “if…

A train nearly collided with track workers in Porirua last week as they were tyring to dislodge a piece of equipment that had become stuck on the track.The Transport Accident Investigation Commission opened an investigation today after the incident last Thursday near Plimmerton on the North Island Main Trunk Line.Track workers were reportedly attempting to dislodge a piece of work equipment that had become stuck on the track.They managed to clear the track just before a passenger train arrived but were unable to remove the equipment.Sighting the workers, the train driver applied emergency braking and successfully stopped the train before…

Grey District mayor Tania Gibson says anyone thinking of standing for council in September should work out in advance how they will handle personal abuse.Especially if they’re women.Gibson has welcomed the recent release of an online toolkit by the Minister for Women Nicola Grigg, to help women in public office to combat abuse and harassment.The toolkit is available on the Ministry’s website, and features videos from women who have experience online abuse and armed themselves against it.“I’ve had a look at some of the videos, and hearing some of the stories, it helps to know you’re not alone and many…